Interchangeable illuminated sign



June 20, 1939. c. J. wAMsl-:R

INTERCHANGEABLE ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed May 1e, 1958 ball. Il

Inventur [llaPIEEJM/amSEr Eig Z /f//f4 e'r/' Fittmneg Patented June 20, -1939 UNITED sTATEsPATENT oFFlcE amazes INTERCHANGEABLE mLUMlNATED SIGN Charles J. Wamser, Milwaukee, Wis. Application May 16, 193s. serial no. 208,193

3 Claims.

This invention pertains to interchangeable signs, and more particularly to electrically illuminated signs provided with translucent or opalescent glass panels, and opaque or translucent 5 silhouette letters detachably mounted thereon.

The invention has primarily for its object to simplify and reduce the cost of manufacture of signs of the foregoing type, such as disclosed in United States Letters Patents Nos. 2,038,078,

2,048,040, and 2,113,285, by the provision of novel means for detachably mounting the silhouette letters upon the front face of the illuminated translucent panel.`

Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific ob- 1Q ject resides in connecting and supporting a pair of spaced, parallel, horizontal channels directly uponthe front face ofa translucent panel, thus eliminating an expensive supporting frame for the letters, and reducing obstruction of illuminazo tion to a minimum.

Another object of the present` invention resides in the fact that the silhouette letters are positioned closely adjacent the translucent panel, thus providing a clean-cut outline for the letters,

which materially enhances the appearance of the sign.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction,

combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more partie"- ularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come withinthe scope of the claims.

' In the accompanying drawing is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed accordingto the best mode so far devised for the practical 4o application of the principles thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sign constructed in accordance with one form lofv the present invention, parts being broken away and in section to more clearly illustrate structural details. l

` Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of4 Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawing, while a sign of the present type has numerous applications it is particularly designed 5 for use in connection with theatre marquees, in

(Cl. v40-140) which it is desired to frequently change the display letters.

The numeral l designates generally a frame in the form of a housing, comprising top and bottom walls 2 and 3, respectively, to which is attached a rear wall 4. Secured to the front of the housing, which is normally open, is a translucent or opalescent panel 5, formed of glass or other suitable material. To provide for quick removal of the panel 5 for cleaning, or to permit access to the housing, the panel 5 is mounted between longitudinal lips 6 extending from the top and bottom walls 2 and 3 of the housing. As best shown in Figure 2, the height of the panel 5 is somewhat less than the distance between the top and bottom walls of the housing, thus -allowing the panel to be shifted upwardly to clear the 1ower,lips, after which it can be swung outwardly at its lower 'Qdge and withdrawn from the top lips of the housing.

The housing is illuminated by an incandescent bulb 'l mounted upon a ledge 8 supported upon the bottom w'all 3. Obviously, other forms of illumination, such as gas discharge tubes and the like, may be employed without departing from the invention. f

The structure heretofore described is more or less conventional, the salient principles of the invention residing in the novel means for mounting the detachable silhouette letters upon the front of the translucent panel 5. Heretofore, structures of the present type, such as disclosed in the patents referred to, have resorted to auxiliary frames carried by the housing independently of the translucent panel, or surrounding the edges of the panel and suitably secured there- 1 to. Such frames are not only expensive, but also create obstruction to the illumination, which is particularly objectionable in signs utilizing a plurality of translucent panels, such as is customary in marquees. In other words, such frames cause a marked division between the panels, which detracts from the general appearance of the sign.

To overcome the foregoing objections, the present invention entirelyv eliminates an independent fabricated ietter frame by the provision of spaced upper and lower parallel channels 9 and I0, respectively, to which threaded studs il are secured in any suitable manner and projected through openings I2 provided in -the panel 5. Nuts i 3, threaded upon the rear ends of the studs Il, serve to firmly lock the channels to the glass. y

The silhouette letters or characters I4 may be formed in any desired manner from various materials. However, for the purpose of economy it is contemplated to stamp or cut the same from weather-resistance fibrous or composition material. The upper and lower edges oi the characters I4 are provided with nibs'or projections IS, which extend into the channels 9 and lil, and as will be noted in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, a clearance is normally provided between the projections i 5 and the top of the upper channel 9, which allows insertion or removal of the letters from the channels by shifting the same upwardly to permit clearance of the lower channel.

Inasmuch as the weight of the letters is supported largely by the lower channel I0, the same is preferably formed in a Y configuration in cross section, which provides a relatively shallow channel to facilitate removal of the letters, and at theI same time affords suillcient contact between the channel and panel to prevent sagging of the channel. While the channel i0 can be formed in any desired manner, it is preferred to stamp the same from sheet material, bent back upon itself, and having one of its edges beaded over the adjacent edge to securely lock the two together, thus providing a relatively inexpensive and at the same time rigid construction.

While the dimensions of the channels with relation to the characters and other portions of the sign illustrated in the drawingare considerably exaggerated for the purpose of more clearly showing structuraldetails, it will be appreciated from the explanation given in connection with' the accompanying drawing that the present invention provides a very' simple and relatively inexpensive structure for detachably supporting silhouette letters upon the front of an illuminated translucent panel, and in close proximity to the panel, providing clean-cut outlines for the characters highly desirable in Aa sign of the present type- Further advantages of the invention result from the fact that no obstruction is required between adjacent panels, such as occurs in conventional signs of the present type. and being directly connected to the translucent panel at suitably spaced points, the channels 9 and I0 further serve as a reinforcing means for the panel to prevent breakage from wind or other causes, and also, in the event of breakage, acting to hold the parts of the panel, thus preventing them from falling to the sidewalk or highway and injuring pedestrians.

I claim:

1. An illuminated sign comprising a housing having an open side, electric illuminating means contained within said housing, a translucent panel detachably carried by said housing, a pair o! spaced parallel horizontal channels, means carried by the channels and projecting through said panel for detachably securing the channels thereto, and silhouette letters having upper and lower projections detachably mounted in said channels.

2. An illuminated sign comprising a housing having an open side, electric illuminating means contained within .said housing, a translucent paneldetachably carried by said housing, a pair of spaced parallel horizontal channels, threaded studs carried `by the channels and projecting through said panel for detachably securing the channels thereto. and silhouette letters having upper and lower projections detachably mounted in said channels. y

3. An illuminated sign comprising a housing having an open side, electric illuminating means contained within said housing, a translucent panel detachably carried by said housing, a pair of spaced parallel horizontal channels, the lower channel being of Y connguration in cross section, and having a flat side in contact with said panel above and below the crotch of the channel. means carried by the channels and projecting through said panel for detachably securing the channels thereto, and silhouette letters having upper and v lower projections detachably mounted in said channels.

CHARLES J.- WAMBER. 

